Study on the Relationship Between Digital Inclusion, the Level of the Digital Economy and Rural Household Consumption

Yapeng Li, Yuzhu Bao () and Yilin Wang
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Yapeng Li: Department of Public Administration, School of Humanities and Law, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300131, China
Yuzhu Bao: Department of Public Administration, School of Humanities and Law, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300131, China
Yilin Wang: Department of Public Administration, School of Humanities and Law, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300131, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: It is crucial to expand domestic demand and enhance the driving effect of consumption on economic development in order to achieve sustainable economic growth in China. There is considerable scope for improvement in the consumption level of rural households when compared with that of urban households. This paper employs data from 2104 rural Chinese households to investigate the impact of digital inclusion on rural households’ consumption expenditures and to consider the moderating effect of the development of the digital economy. The findings are intended to provide useful guidance for the promotion of digital inclusion and the growth of rural households’ consumption. The study finds that digital inclusion significantly promotes rural households’ consumption expenditures, particularly for enjoyable consumption. Furthermore, the level of regional digital economic development exerts a positive moderating influence on the impact of digital inclusion on rural households’ consumption. Additionally, there are notable differences in the impact of digital inclusion on the consumption of households with varying levels of assets. Therefore, boosting rural residents’ acceptance and utilization of digital technology, refining the digital financial service system and infrastructure, and providing policy support for the development of digital inclusion can promote sustained growth in rural household consumption in China.

Keywords: digital inclusion; rural household consumption; triple interaction theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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